Self propelled bale handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled vehicle has a flat elevated bed with a conveyor extending therealong from front to back. An elongated header extends forwardly and downwardly from the bed front, riding on the ground at the front end, and has a conveyor chain thereon coordinated with the bed conveyor. Structure is provided for funneling hay bales onto the header and holding the bales in proper position thereon for transmission to the rear end of the bed for stacking. The conveyors may be reversed and the header elevated, with an extension fitted thereon, for off-loading from the bed.

United States Patent 91 [111 3,722,722

Blair 5] Mar. 27, 1973 [54] SELF-PROPELLED BALE HANDLING 3,493,136 21970 Spellman,Jr. ..214 522 x APPARATUS I [76] Inventor: Calvin B.Blair, PO. Box 76, Bar- Pnmary Exafnmer Albert Makay Hard, KansAttorney-Frshburn, Gold & Litman [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 57 ABSTRACT[21] Appl' 131,096 A self-propelled vehicle has a flat elevated bed witha conveyor extending therealong from front to back. An 52 us. Cl..214/522, 198/7 BL, 214/8326 elongated header extends forwardly anddownwardly [51] Int. Cl. "1360p 1/38 fr m the bed front, riding n theground at the from [58] Field of Search...2l4/83.26, 521, 522; 198/7 BLend, and has a conveyor chain thereon coordinated with the bed conveyor.Structure is provided for fun- [56] References Cited neling hay balesonto the header and holding the bales in proper position thereon fortransmission to the rear UNITED STATES PATENTS end of the bed forstacking. The conveyors may be 3,341,039 9/1967 Cranage ..214/83.36reversed and the header elevated, with an extension 3,448,879 6/1969 Vander Lely... ....214/83.36 X fitted thereon, for off-loading from thebed. 3,539,067 11/1970 Secrist ....2l4/83.36 X 3,593,868 Folz ..214/3564 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATEFHEUHARZ? m5 SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR.COIVm 8. Bl ir BY 7pm JAM an A TTORNEYS PATEHTEDHARZHSB 3,722,722

SHEET 2 BF 3 .INVENTOR. Calvm B. Bloar hiz A TTORNEYS SELF-PROPELLEDBALE HANDLING APPARATUS This invention relates to bale handlingapparatus and more particularly to a self-propelled bale handler havingthe ability to pick-up bales lying in the field at relatively high speedand off-load the bales after receiving a load thereon.

Several types of apparatus have been used for gathering and loading haybales and the like deposited in the field by a bales, however,heretofore they have, exhibited disadvantages such as, excesscomplexity, requiring large amounts of hand labor, or requiring two ormore separate pieces of apparatus for gathering, consolidating andoff-loading.

The principal objects of this invention are: To provide bale handlingapparatus which easily and quickly picks up bales lying in a field anddeposits them on a mobile bed; to provide such a device which isoperable with a minimum of labor; to provide such a device which iseasily maneuverable in the field and operable under adverse fieldconditions; to provide such a device which conveniently offers baleoff-loading features and which is relatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction while being well suited for its intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a self-propelled bale handlingapparatus embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a forwardly anddownwardly extending header in bale pickup position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showingconveyor drive structure associated with the header and a bed channel.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the header aboutto receive an off-loading extension header thereon.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the extension headerconnected.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the header andextension header elevated for off-loading.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the rear portion of thevehicle bed and the conveyor chain thereon.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates bale handling apparatusembodying this invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a vehicle 2including a frame 3 having steerable front wheels 4 anddrivable rearwheels 5 thereon. An elongated horizontal bed 6 is supported on theframe 3 in a position elevated above the wheels 4 and 5. A drive engine7 of any suitable type is mounted on the frame 3 and beneath the bed 6and is suitably connected to the rear wheels 5, rendering the apparatusself-propelled and maneuverable in the field.

The bed 6 has an upper surface 8, a front end 9 and a rearend 10. Afence 11 is suitably mounted on the bed rear end and extends upwardlytherefrom forming a back-stop for bales 12 to be stacked thereon by ahelper (not shown) who rides on the bed 6.

A shallow conveyor channel 13 rests on the bed upper surface 8 andextends longitudinally medially thereof from said bed front end 9 to aposition 14 spaced forwardly of the bed rear end 10. A front bed shaft15 is rotatably and transversely mounted adjacent the bed front end 9and a sprocket 16 is rotatably fixed thereon medially of the conveyorchannel 13. Drive means, in this example an hydraulic motor 17, ismounted on the frame 3 coaxially of the shaft 15 and is connectedthereto through a flexible coupling 18 for driving the shaft andsprocket 16 thereon.

The bed 6 has an opening 19 extending vertically therethrough near thebed rear end 10, FIG. 8. A rear sprocket 20 is rotatably mounted in thebed opening'l9 in alignment with the front sprocket l6 and an endlessconveyor chain 21 is engaged with the sprockets 16 and 20 for movementrearwardly on the conveyor channel 13 when the hydraulic motor 17 drivesthe sprocket l6 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4.

A bale pick-up header 22 comprises an elongated trough member 23 havinga front end 24, a rear end 25, a floor 26 and upwardly projecting,spaced-apart side rails 27 and 28 extending therealong on each side edgeof the floor 26. The header 22 is mounted on the vehicle frame 3 bymeans of suitable hinging structure 28 for vertical pivotting with thetrough member rear end adjacent the bed front end 9. An hydraulic ram 29is pivotally mounted at one end 30 to the vehicle frame 3 and at theother end 31 to a suitable link secured to the underside of the header22 in order to vertically pivot the header by suitable remote controls(not shown) for example, located near the drivers seat 32, FIG. 7.

A rear transverse header shaft 33 is rotatably mounted near the trouchrear end 25 and a sprocket 34 is rotatably fixed thereon adjacent thefront bed shaft sprocket l6 and medially of the trough floor 26. A fronttransverse header shaft 25 is rotatably mounted near the trough frontend 24 and a sprocket 36 is rotatably fixed thereon in alignment withthe rear header shaft sprocket 34. An endless conveyor chain 37 isengaged with the respective rear and front header shaft sprockets 34 and36 for movement along the header floor 26 through means described below.Spaced teeth 38 are located along the conveyor chain 37 to produce morepositive driving engagement with bales 12. j

A second sprocket 39 is rotatably fixed to the rear header shaft 33 anda second sprocket 40 is rotatably fixed to the front bed shaft 15 inalignment with the sprocket 39. A drive chain 41 operably connects thesprockets 40 and 41 wherein the header conveyor chain 37 is drivensimultaneously with and in the same direction as the bed conveyor chain21.

Elongated spur members 42 and 43 are rotatably fixed on the front headershaft 35 on each side of the sprocket 36, for rotation therewith. A pairof spaced apart support wheels 44 are pivotally and swivally mountedlaterally of the trough member front end 24 supporting same for movementalong and adjacent the ground and projecting forwardly and downwardly ofthe frame bed 6, FIG. ll

A pair of elongated, forwardly projecting gathering points 45 and 46 aremounted on the trough member front end 24 adjacent the respective siderails 27 and taper laterally outwardly of the side rails forming afunnel for directing the hay bales 12 onto the spur members 42 and 43 asthe apparatus 1 is driven forwardly in the field.

The gathering points 45 and 46 are secured to the header front end 24 bymeans of pivotal or hinge members 47, FIG. 2, permitting same to befolded upwardly and rearwardly, to the position shown in FIG. when thegathering points are to be placed out of service for off-loading,described below. Suitable tension springs 48 retain the respectivegathering points in a forwardly directed position but permit verticaldisplacement in case a low obstruction is engaged in the field. Thetension springs 48 are disengaged when it is desired to fold thegathering point back as shown in FIG. 5.

A bale hold down structure 49 is mounted on the header 22 near the frontend 24 and comprises a pair of uprights 50 projecting from therespective side rails 27. A cross-bar 51 is pivotally mounted on theuprights 50 and extends therebetween. A pair of arms 52 are secured toand project radially from the cross-bar 51 and rotatabiy support a wheel53 therebetween. The wheel 53 is normally maintained in a positionprojecting downwardlyand forwardly of the cross-bar 51 as best shown inFIG. 2 by means of a tension spring 54 which draws a limit member 55into a predetermined position, FIG. 1. The wheel 53, however, is free topivot upwardly or clockwise as shown in FIG. 2 against the tension ofthe spring 54 when contacting a bale as described hereinafter.

An extension header 56 is stored during bale pick-up operations beneaththe bed 6,.FIG. 8, and comprises structure generally similar to theheader 22 but adapted to be completely disengaged from the apparatus.The extension header 56'includes rotatably mounted front and rearsprockets 57 and 58, a conveyor chain 59 mounted thereon and troughforming structure 60 generally similar to that described in connectionwith header 22. Mounting hooks 61 project rearwardly of the extensionheader 56 and are adapted to engage in a pin extending outwardly fromthe hinge members 47 to couple the header 22 with the extension header56 as the former is raised by means of the hydraulic ram 29. A sprocket62, mounted on the front header shaft 35, forms a drive member whichoperates through a suitable removable chain 63 to drive a sprocket 64fixed to the shaft driving the rear extension header sprocket 58.Suitable chain tightening structure 65 permits the application andremoval of the chain 63 as needed. When the extension header 56 is to beconnected, the gathering points 45 and 46 are folded rearwardly as shownin no.5. i

In operation, the bale handling apparatus 1 is driven through the fieldswith the front end 24 of the pick-up header 22 supported near the groundby means of the wheels 44. A bale 12 is engaged in the funnel formed bythe gathering points 45 and 46 and is directed onto the spur members 42and 43 which pull it upwardly onto the conveyor chain 37. The wheel 53on the bale hold down 49 engages the upper surface of the bale andprevents it from tipping under the forces created by the moving chain37. When the bale reaches the top of the pick-up header 22, it isengaged by the chain 21 which directs it rearwardly along the channel 13toward the rear end portion of the bed where a helper (not shown) picksit up and stacks it along with other bales against, and forwardly of,the fence 11. When the bed 6 is loaded to capacity, the apparatus 1 maybe driven to an unloading location. The hydraulic motor 17 may then bereversed and, by elevating the pick-up header 22 the apparatus becomesan off-loader for use as desired. If the off-loading is to be onto ahigh stack or in arhigh loft which cannot be reached by the header 22,the extension header 56 is used to extend the reach.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has beenillustrated and described it is not to be limited thereto except insofaras such limitations are included in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. Bale handlingapparatus comprising:

a. a steerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongatedhorizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an uppersurface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel onsaid bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from saidbed front end to a position spaced forwardly of said bed rear end, anendless conveyor chain extending along said channel, reversible drivemeans for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel;

. a'bale pick-up header comprising an elongated trough member having afront end, a rear end, a floor and upwardly projecting spaced apart siderails extending therealong, said header being mounted on said vehicleframe for vertical' pivotting with said trough member rear end adjacentsaid bed from end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said troughmember floor and operable connected to said drive means for simultaneousmovement with said channel conveyor chain,

c. a pair of spaced apart support members mounted laterally of saidtrough member front end and supporting same for movement adjacenttheground and projecting forwardly and downwardly of said frame bed;.

. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering points mounted on said troughmember front end adjacent said respective side rails, said gatheringpoints tapering laterally outwardly of said side rails and forming afunnel for directing hay bales onto said trough member front end, saidgathering points being pivotally mounted to said trough member front endfor folding rearwardly thereof; and

e. a conveyor extension member adapted for operative engagement withsaid header front end and extending the reach of said header foroff-loading.

. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: p

a. said support members mounted on said trough member front end arerotatably and swivally mounted wheels.

. A bale handling apparatus comprising:

a. va steerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongatedhorizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an uppersurface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel onsaid bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from saidbed front end to a position spaced forwardly of said bed rear end, anendless conveyor chain extending along said channei, reversible drivemeans for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel;

b a bale pick-up header comprising an elongated a pair of spaced apartsupport members mounted laterally of said trough member front end andsupporting same for movement adjacent the ground and projectingforwardly and downwardly of said frame bed;

d. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering points mounted on saidtrough member front end adjacent said respective side rails, saidgathering points tapering laterally outwardly of said side rails andforming a funnel for directing hay bales onto said trough member frontend; and

. a conveyor extension member for off-loading adapted for engagementwith said header front end, said extension member including an endlessconveyor chain, and manually operable means for selectively engagingsaid extension conveyor chain with said header conveyor chain.

. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: said manually operablemeans includes a removable drive chain and chain tightening structure.

1. Bale handling apparatus comprising: a. a steerable, self-propelledvehicle including a frame, an elongated horizontal bed supported on saidframe, said bed having an upper surface, a front end and a rear end, ashallow bale conveyor channel on said bed upper surface and extendinglongitudinally thereof from said bed front end to a position spacedforwaRdly of said bed rear end, an endless conveyor chain extendingalong said channel, reversible drive means for driving said channelconveyor chain along said channel; b. a bale pick-up header comprisingan elongated trough member having a front end, a rear end, a floor andupwardly projecting spaced apart side rails extending therealong, saidheader being mounted on said vehicle frame for vertical pivotting withsaid trough member rear end adjacent said bed front end, an endlessconveyor chain extending along said trough member floor and operableconnected to said drive means for simultaneous movement with saidchannel conveyor chain, c. a pair of spaced apart support membersmounted laterally of said trough member front end and supporting samefor movement adjacent the ground and projecting forwardly and downwardlyof said frame bed; d. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering pointsmounted on said trough member front end adjacent said respective siderails, said gathering points tapering laterally outwardly of said siderails and forming a funnel for directing hay bales onto said troughmember front end, said gathering points being pivotally mounted to saidtrough member front end for folding rearwardly thereof; and e. aconveyor extension member adapted for operative engagement with saidheader front end and extending the reach of said header for off-loading.2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said supportmembers mounted on said trough member front end are rotatably andswivally mounted wheels.
 3. A bale handling apparatus comprising: a. asteerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongatedhorizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an uppersurface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel onsaid bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from saidbed front end to a position spaced forwardly of said bed rear end, anendless conveyor chain extending along said channel, reversible drivemeans for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel; b. abale pick-up header comprising an elongated trough member having a frontend, a rear end, a rear end, a floor and upwardly projecting spacedapart side rails extending therealong, said header being mounted on saidvehicle frame for vertical pivotting with said trough member rear endadjacent said bed front end, an endless conveyor chain extending alongsaid trough member floor and operably connected to said drive means forsimultaneous movement with said channel conveyor chain; c. a pair ofspaced apart support members mounted laterally of said trough memberfront end and supporting same for movement adjacent the ground andprojecting forwardly and downwardly of said frame bed; d. a pair offorwardly projecting gathering points mounted on said trough memberfront end adjacent said respective side rails, said gathering pointstapering laterally outwardly of said side rails and forming a funnel fordirecting hay bales onto said trough member front end; and e. a conveyorextension member for off-loading adapted for engagement with said headerfront end, said extension member including an endless conveyor chain,and manually operable means for selectively engaging said extensionconveyor chain with said header conveyor chain.
 4. The apparatus as setforth in claim 3 wherein: a. said manually operable means includes aremovable drive chain and chain tightening structure.